My listening tastes

My daughter is teaching me to appreciate so many different types of music....Although we like the same bands we don't always like the same songs

You will be missed but not forgotten...

May you rest in peace Travis Lee Smith (June 18, 1982-May 21, 2007).....you touched my life without me even realizing it. I heard the news of your death and after a day of letting it sink in I've shed many, many tears. You were such a happy person who had a love for life like I've never seen in anyone else. I know that it's been over three years since we've seen one another but news of your death sparked so many memories and even a bit of regret. I never thanked you for picking up this old single mom during a very dark time. Age was never a boundary in any friendship that you kindled and that means a lot. You introduced me and Bre to the drag races, old cars, and finding joy in simple things. You helped me fix my car when I was low on cash...you actually fixed my car and wanted nothing in return. You made me laugh when I felt like crying. You chased my dog when she went psycho and decided to run away. We looked at the stars and talked about life in general and where it could go. I always knew when you were in the neighborhood because of that loud old car you had. Mornings when I would get coffee at the gas station if you saw me you would try to flirt as if you didn't know me.....I always had to smile!!!! I did something strange today....I talked to you in heaven while I was riding in my car...of course I was alone. I told you things that I remembered and thanked you and wished like everything that you could still be here on earth and enjoy all that life has to offer. Strange cause I don't even live near you anymore but I know that given more time here on earth you would have made the most of it!!!! My husband does not understand that we were friends so I can't really talk to him about you and this good things that I remember about you.

I can't help think about your mother and the feeling of deep loss that she must be experiencing right now.

Trying to act like a badass...but really a teddy bear!

Gas Prices

I'm not a usually the type of person who rants and raves but the recent trend in gas prices has really started my blood boiling. Before my husband started his new logistics business I never really took into consideration how gas prices truly affect everything. Trucks are not moving anywhere due to the over inflated prices because they are unable to make any money from the shippers. One shipper stated that it is unusually slow in the plant industry due to the fact that consumers do not have extra cash flow. Why do they not have extra cash flow? HMMMMM maybe because we live in a country in which it is almost a necessity to drive cars that require gasoline. Extra cash flow goes to pay for gasoline needed to take us to our jobs....

One thing is reliant on another...and when that one thing in the cycle gets out of wack then everything just falls around it.... My mother in-law in all of her infinite hillbilly wisdom has been around the world and is very knowledgable about politics offered this advice in one of our afternoon coffee talks.... Americans should grow some big balls and decide that they are as a whole unit are not going to buy gas for a week or two. Stock up on everything that they need and just sit tight....Break the vicious cycle and create another vicious cycle for the oil companies and the government. Oil companies won't have all those billions of dollars in revenue which means a reduction in the amount that they are paying in taxes to the government.....She said the French never hesitate to shut the country down when they aren't happy with the government or big business. Sounds as if we could take a lesson from the French!

Gas prices have made a negative impact on many families including my own. My children have learned about cutting back and the affect of lean times. No moving freight means no money from my husband's business. We all know that teachers in the south do not make money and the fact that I live in a right to work state where my daily job responsibilities are underpaid and anything extra work done does not earn me the right to extra monetary rewards.

Will the vicious cycle be broken or will it get worse? I hope that things will improve but there is still much darkness in the tunnel at this point.